KEY LARGO -- The Monroe County Commission last week approved an interlocal agreement that would divvy up $50 million in potential sewer funds, which is the second installment of a $200 million state grant.

Under the agreement's terms, Key Largo and Marathon are expected to receive $20 million apiece, with $4 million going to Key West.

The Key Largo Wastewater Board approved the agreement last week, and Marathon and Islamorada are expected to do so at their next meetings.

Negotiations among the municipalities began to suffer around Christmas when the county added payment for a "target" lobbyist to the agreement, which would have required Key Largo to pay $78,000 over three years for a service the wastewater district said it was already getting through its own lobbyist in Tallahassee.

Under the original payment terms, Key Largo would forfeit the $20 million grant money if it did not contribute to the cost of the lobbyist. The board was taken aback by that language.

After that language was removed, the Key Largo district signed on. The agreement will now be sent to state Rep. Holly Raschein, R-Key Largo, who will use it in an effort to secure the grant money from the Legislature.